NDI: Pakistani Women and Young People Work on Political Skills

According to some estimates, more than 60 percent of Pakistanis are under the age of 35. Yet women and young people seldom have leadership opportunities or seats on decision making bodies.

To help enhance their leadership and training skills, young representatives from four major political parties came together in Karachi in late May and again in July with the aim of developing the capabilities of their own parties to train party members in professional party building and campaign organizing. Over half of the participants were women and more than 80 percent of them were under 35.

These were multiparty forums, which can be challenging in Karachi where violence often erupts between political parties. “It’s only because of this platform…that we are able to sit together with other political parties,” said Rahat Javed, president of the women’s wing of Sindh PML, a political party that is a coalition partner with the governing Pakistan People’s Party, and a participant in the workshop. “Otherwise it’s difficult for us to interact even for 10 minutes.”